SHIP: Some R/H questions

[ladjables]

No: HPFGUIDX 34064

To all R/H, H/H shippers,
I've been browsing through the SHIP posts, and correct me if I'm 
wrong, but there seems to be an underlying notion that Ron doesn't 
deserve Hermione(meant facetiously?), but it has me flummoxed.

I've never been a shipper really, but as of Goblet of Fire, I thought 
JKR established some sort of chemistry between the Ron and Hermione, 
if that's what you can call what 14 year olds experience.  I,(quite 
arrogantly) never imagined that other fans hoped Harry and Hermione 
might discover feelings for each other.  It doesn't bother me if I 
never saw a H/H coming, but the idea that Ron and Hermione cannot 
work because he is below her standards, or isn't worthy of her, does.

Have you ever noticed couples who have been together for ever, and 
for the life of you, you can't imagine WHY?  There you are, wondering 
and pondering, railing and wailing that they will never last, and yet 
there they are, blissfully proving you wrong.  Even if theirs is a  
relationship that relishes warfare, this doesn't mean it's 
unsuccessful.  I know of a husband and wife, polar opposites, who 
have fought every day of their now 30 year marriage.  But they're 
happy.  Would R and H theoretically not work out because they fight 
all the time?  Is that a bad thing?  Or is that just the way they 
communicate?

I have no lofty theory for why H/H belong together, except I believe 
Ron would be as good for Hermione as she would be for him.  It 
doesn't matter if he's Harry's sidekick, or he exhibits extreme 
jealousy while Harry is capable of such admirable strength of 
character (I'm not saying these are anyone's reasons).  I think 
comparing Harry and Ron is deceptive.  In my eyes they're equal even 
if they're not alike.  Either of them would make good, albeit 
different boyfriends.

Both Hermione and Harry depend on Ron.  He anchors the trio very 
well, since H and H are struggling to find their place in the 
wizarding world.  It's true he's trying to carve out a niche for 
himself as the 6th Weasley boy, but this isn't comparable to Harry 
and Hermione, who are muggle-raised.  He has a certain level of 
security they don't have.  What I think is very significant about Ron 
and Hermione's relationship however is that Ron is the only person 
who will take Hermione down a peg.  (I will probably get flamed for 
this). 

I'm not saying Hermione should become a floozy because she's too 
brilliant, but in some ways I think her obsession with schoolwork is 
to compensate for her insecurity about other facets of her 
character.  Ron sees right through her when she's being intolerably 
know-it-all, or gets her to relax when she's hyperventilating, I 
think there's evidence in the canon, especially when they're yelling 
at each other over homework.  I believe this why Ron is very good for 
Hermione.  And what does this have to do with them being a couple?  
Probably nothing, but that's my reasoning.  Hermione may challenge 
Ron to become more ambitious, but Ron may challenge Hermione to let 
her hair down, I know she can do this on her own, but his telling her 
has an impact as well. 

What I really want to say is, don't underrate Ron's character because 
he isn't as clever as Hermione, or not a Harry Potter; he has his 
merits too.  I don't think he has to become a great chess champion or 
have some other secret talent(even though that would be fine too) to 
be worthy of either the trio or Hermione; I happen to like him the 
way he is. And I really don't think any of those things matter when 
it comes to relationships.  They may enhance them, but they don't 
bolster them.  Good lord, I'm discussing the love lives of fictitious 
14 year olds, time to go.  Forgive the ramble, especially if I've 
repeated last year's theories, and please feel free to unspool this 
mess.
Ama